Freight-car stake-pocket.



C. H. VANDONK.

FREIGHT CAR STAKE POCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.15. 1915.

I 1,156,566. Patented 00t.12, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

i A H COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 420.. WASHIN c.

C. H. VANDONK.

FREIGHT CAR STAKE POCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-15,1915.

1,156,566. Patented 00t.12, 1 915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2,

33 formingparts of the gate membejrsi26i. Ad acent the meeting line ofthese horizontal web parts '33, the latter are beveled off, as

shown at 34, so as topermit theistake to drop out when. the'gate members26 are swung outwardly on their pivots to effect its release, thisbeingclearly shown in dotmovement, it will be seen that the bottom of tedlines in Fig. 3. The main body casting 24 is suitably drilled out at 35so as to accommodate fastening bolts to secure it to the sill of thecar. V

the main pocket casting 24, beneath the pocket opening, carries a pairof integral depending lugs 36, suitably conformed with ribs'37 and, 38so as to furnish the desired strength and rigidity, and bored outtransversely, i. 6., horizontally and longitudinally of the car, so asto accommodate a rotary worm element or cam 39, shown in perspective 1nFig; 8i Thlsworm element 1s a single casting,'the body-'of'which 40 iscylindrical in shape, and on the exterior of-which" 1 cylinder areformed a set of integral cams or i worms 41 and 42, 42. The, ends of thecylinder 40 extend somefdistance beyond the-outer V faces 43 0fthesimilarly shaped cams 42, 42

and constitute journals which are adapted to rotatein the holes boredout transversely in the depending 'lugs36. It should be noted that theoverall length of the worm element issomewhat less than the spacebetween the inner edges of, the; ribs 38, inaddition to.

which the upper portions of the lugs 3'6 are 'will be observedthat thelower ends of, the] 'cut away, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4

and in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to permit the worm element to beremoved bodily from its bearings in'the pocket casting 24 when P foccaslon amses to assemble or repair the device. v

Describing the, cooperation between the cam element 39 and the-gatemembers'26, it

I gate members on the under side of the webs 33 are provided withintegral depending cams 44. As shown in Fig. 7 the inner'adjacent faces45 of said cams 44 are adapted to co-act with the outer faces 46 ofthecent'ral pointed cam 41, hereinafter called the closing cam, andtheir outerfaces47 co-act with the inner faces 48.0f the outer cams 42,hereinafter called-theopening cams Assumingthat the pocket is in closedposition, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, it is apparent that a rotarymovement of the worm element in the direction of the'arrow 49 will causethe outer points ofthe cams 42, 42 to enter between the inner surfacesof the lugs 36 and the.

outer cam surfaces 47 of thecams 44, and

will cause a rotary movement of; the gate members 26 upon' theirpivots27 The pro-;

jeoted position of said pivots 27 is indicated at points 27 in Fig, 7although they are out off. The eXtent'of the rotary movement ofthemember 39 and the shape of the opening cams are such as to open thegate members 1nto the position shown 1n dotted lines 111 and thus, ifdesired, formingfa. stopto arrest further unnecessary movement. In orderto .swing the gate members back intoclosed position, the worm element 39is rotatedin the reverse direction from thatshown by the "Fig. 3, withthe rear ends 50 of, the webs33 substantially in engagement with eachother,

45 of the cams 44, which are then "substantially in contact with eachother; and as said member 39 commences to rotate, the wedgeshaped foamsurfaces .46 of the said cam 41 will co-a'ct with the cam surfaces 45 ofthe cams 44 and force the latter apart, thus effecting a rotation ofthegate members 26 upontheir pivots until they attain their nor--. malposition, shown in Figs. 1, 2,3, 4, 5 and 7. The rotation: of the-wormelement is,

however, continued. beyond the time after which the cam surfaces 46and45 become V1neffective to rotate the gate members further,

this further rotation beingivpermitted by: reason of the parallelcharacter of the eXtensions 5120f the pointed cam surfaces 46; thisfurther rotary movement of the "worm ele-. ment bringing the outwardlyextended pare allel} portion 52 between the now parallel in- Her edges53 'of'thewebs 33 on the lower ends of the gate members. In order toarrest the as a movementiof the worm element after it has i ing lipv 52which strikes against the'under side of the webs 33, and thus arreststhe rotation of theworm element. This outwardly projectingparallelportion 52, just referred to, is extended radially from the axisof the wormelement a suflicient distance to" bring a substantial portionof said parallel portion 52 between said two parallel surfaces 53. Inthis connection, it should be noted that the pivots 27, are located asubstantial distance outward from a vertical; plane in which'i's locatedthe axis of the worm elemental-39'; thus, after the wormelement hasclosed the gates, and after it has continuedits rotation into thelocking position, as shown inFigs. I 2jan'd 5,;it will be found to beimpossible to effect movement of the worm element by attempting to swingthe gate members out-, wardly-away from the pocket, Thus, it is manifestthat I have provided a cam 01' worm connection between the gate membersand the rotary element 39 of such'character that the movement isirreversible with respect to the closing movement, and thisconstructionis self-locking, which is of great advantage in devices of this general,type.- .It is also apparent that theoperatingparts are so organized asto be located entirely below the I or harsh treatment. f

bottom of the pocketiopening and thus are so situatedasto beentirelyfree from abuse [Describing the means for rotating the wormelements 39 it will be observed that these elements arecored out axiallywith a square hole 5 extending longitudinally the entire length of thecylindricallportion 40, and through which passes theisquare actuatingshaft 22, previously referred to. T he eX- trcme end ofthisshaft 22preferably ex? tends'slightlybeyond theend of the sill so as to permitthe convenient application 55, which, in this instance, takes the formof a flanged bushing cored out axially with a square hole to admit theshaft 22, and having at its outerend a pair, offlat, lugs 56extending,alonggtwo. opposite sides of the shaft-22, which latterisprevented from moving axiallywith reference to" the bushing by virtue ofa split cotter. 57: which passes through said lugs 57 and through a holedrilled transversely through the shaft 22. Tlhis'Ffian 'ed bushin isrotatabl supported in a hanger 158, this being con-- structed \Vlthythremovable cap .59 bolted thereon so as to permit insertion or removal ofsaid flanged bushing 55. The hanger 5,8

I is suitably-ribbed to provide the maximum strength and rigidity and issecured to the sillQO of the car by means-of a pair :of

boltsGOQ a i I Describing the subsidiary.locking device for preventingvibration of the car from causing the gradual rotation of the rod 22 andof the worm elements and thuscausmg Figs. 9 and IQ ,apawljmember 61which is, rigidly secured to, the end of the shaft 62,

improperopening of the'pockets, I show in journaled inthe hanger bracket58 parallelwith the shaft 22. theother end of s'aid'shaft carryinghandlepiecef 63' which permits the pawl 61 to be readily raised out oflocking engagement with the flanged bushing 55. The locking of saidflanged bushing 55 is actually effected by virtue of the depend ing. arm61 engaging a cam portion 64,

which is formed as a projection or-extension tinued rotary movement andplaced the clos-,

ing cams in self-locked position; In order 7 movements of a said tofreetheshaft so. as to permit itxto be rotated toopen the pockets, thatis to say, .inthe direction of the arrow 65, theoperator manipulatesthehand-lever 63 anchthrows the locking arin 61 backwardlyuntil the loweredgetliereof passes rearwardly beyond the point of I the cam (i l.Thisohviously permits the shaft to be rotated and the pockets tobeiopened to release the stakes. In order to prevent the operator fromim-f properly throwingbacl; the locking arm 62 too fanI provide a pin 66fixed in the side of the hanger '58 which engages therear 'cdgeof saidlockingfarm 62 and prevents;

excessive movement thereof. Owing to the carelessnesscf the relativelyunskilled help employed in handling freight cars, and par,- ticularlyfiat cars of this type, which are ordinarily employed in theshipment oflogs, I have found that it is advisable to make the operation of closingand locking the pockets as automatic as possible. Hence, in ordertoprevent a careless employee from leaving theparts.unloclrechthat is,with. the locking arm :61 ,in. its unlocked position against the pin66,1 form on the opposite side of said locking arm a small projectingcam or dog 67 which. swings down into the path of the point of the Cam6% when said. arm (ilis moved into engagementwith the pin 66. Thuswhen'the shaftQQ isturnedin the direction of thearrowto openthe,pockets, the point of I the cam (3% strikes the point of the dog67 andthrows the lockingarnr 6'? back 'approximately into its normal lockedposition,

ets, the lower edge of the locking arm 61 will drag overthe rearface ofthe cam 64 until the point of the latter slips past said lower edge onthe completion of the: closing movement of the rod 22, and theaarm 61will then fall by gravity: behind the front locking face of the Cam 6%,and the entire mechanism will thus be automatically placed in lockedposition. i I It should beunderstood that the construction descrihediscapable being modified in manyof its details without departing from thespirit of the invention, hence I do not wish to belimited, except asspecified in the appended claims; a

I claim p I 1. The combination ofa car stake pocket provided with a gatemember adapted to swing on a substantially vertical pivot, a horizontalshaft, and an interengaging member carried respectively by said gatemember and said shaft, and adapted positively to effect both opening andclosing pivotal gate upon rotationof said shaft. V a y 2. Thecombination of a car stakepocket provided with a gate member adapted to.45 Y closer to the sill of the car than the pivotal in swingon asubstantially vertical pivot and form a closure for saidpocket, adapted,upon its rotary movement, to open said closure and release the stake, ashaft, and cams respectively carried by said gate member and said shaft,cooperating to effect rotation of said gate member upon rotation of saidshaft. p V 1 v 3. The combination of-a car stake pocket provided with agate member adapted to swing on a substantially vertical pivot, ahorizontal shaft jonrnaled in the lower end of said pocket beneath thebottom wall of y the pocket opening, and interengaging cams carriedrespectively by-saidshaft and by the lower end of said gate member andadapted to effect rotation of said gatemember to open said pocket uponrotation of said shaft.

.4. The combination of a car stakepocket provided with a pairof opposedgate members mounted on vertical pivots on either side of the pocketopening'and adapted to swing outwardly away from each otherto releasethe stake, and common actuating means for rotating said gate members ineither directions. j

5. The combination of a car stakepocket provided with a pair of opposedgate members mounted on vertical pivots at the sides of the pocketopening and adapted to swing outwardly to release the stake, ahorizontal shafthaving its axis a substantial distance beneath thebottom or the pocket opening, cams carried by the lower ends of saidgate members beneath the bottom wall of said pocket, and a'common camelement carried by saidshaft and adapted to cooperate "with Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for 1 1 Washington, D. C.

the gate cams toeffect rotation of saidgate members. I I

6. The combination of a car stake pocket provided with agate memberadapted to swing on a substantially vertical pivot, a

horizontal shaft journaled in the lower end of said pocket and havingits axis beneath the lower end of said pocket opening and axis of saidgate member, and a cam carried by said shaft and having operative engagement with the lower end of said gate member, said cam being providedwith a surface adapted toeffect a rotary closing movement of said gatemember, and being provided with a second engaging surface adapted toactuation of said shaft.

fives cents each, by addressing forma lock for said" gate memberafteriits closing movement has been effected.

provided with a pair of opposed gate members mounted on vertical'shaftsat the sides of the pocket opening andadapted to swing.

outwardly to release the stake, a horizontal 7. The combination of a carstake pocket 2 shaft having its axis beneath thejpocket.

opening andcloser to the sill'of the car than the pivotal aXesof saidgate members, cams carried by the lower-"ends of'said gate members, anda cam carried by said shafthaving a pair of similar cam surfacesarranged in wedge relation and adapted simultaneously to engage the camson the lower ends of said gate members and-effect a closing movement ofclosing said gate member. I I

9. The coi'nbination of a car stake pocket provided with a pair ofopposed gate mem hers mounted onvertical pivots on either side of thepocket opening and adapted to swing outwardly away t'rom each other torelease the stake, a horizontal. shaft and mutually cocperatin'ginterengaging members carried respectively by said shaft and gatemembers, adapted positively to effect both 0 aenin filld ClOSll'l rotarvmovements of said gate members.

10. The combinationofa car stake pocket provided with a pivoted gatemember adapted normally to close the pocket opening and capable of beingswung on its pivot to're-- lease'the stake, a shaft, and interengagingcam members carried respectively by said shaft and said gate memberscooperating together to effect positive opening and 1010s T mg movementsof said gate member by the -oonnntins n. VANDONK. f Witnesses: r

A. BLoMs'rRoM G. M. 'HABERLE.

the Commissioner of Ifatentsa

